February 23rd, 2026

5 crypto events that will make or break 2026: What investors must know before April

The second quarter of 2026 marks a defining moment for digital assets, as regulatory milestones and macroeconomic shifts converge to reshape the crypto landscape. As someone who has navigated this industry for over fifteen years and advised governments on blockchain policy, I see these upcoming events not as isolated developments but as interconnected forces that will determine whether crypto matures into a legitimate pillar of global finance or remains trapped in regulatory limbo.

The period between late March and early July presents five catalysts that demand close attention, each carrying the potential to unlock capital, clarify rules, or alter the monetary conditions that underpin risk asset performance. Understanding how these events interact requires looking beyond headlines to the structural changes they introduce for investors, builders, and policymakers alike.

The CLARITY Act (April 3, 2026)

Industry leaders anticipate President Trump could sign the CLARITY Act by April 3, 2026, a move that would finally delineate regulatory responsibilities between the SEC and CFTC. This legislation matters because legal ambiguity has long stifled innovation in the world’s largest capital market.

When projects face uncertain enforcement actions rather than clear compliance pathways, talent and capital migrate elsewhere. The passage would reduce legal risks for US-based crypto initiatives and signal to traditional finance that digital assets operate under a predictable framework.

I have long argued that regulation should enable rather than constrain technological progress, and this bill represents a step toward that balance. Reduced uncertainty often precedes capital deployment, so we could see accelerated institutional participation once the rules of engagement become transparent. Projects that previously hesitated to launch in the United States may now proceed, knowing which agency oversees their token structure and what disclosures they must provide.

SEC Crypto ETF Decisions (March 27, 2026)

Just one week earlier, on March 27, 2026, the SEC must issue final decisions on 91 pending crypto ETF applications spanning 24 tokens. Analysts expect verdicts to arrive sooner, given the perceived friendlier regulatory stance, but the deadline itself creates a hard boundary for market expectations.

Approval of altcoin ETFs, such as those tracking Solana or XRP, would replicate the institutional access wave that Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs initiated. These products serve as regulated conduits for pension funds, endowments, and registered investment advisors who cannot directly hold digital assets.

The scale of potential inflows remains substantial, and I view this as a critical test of whether US regulators will allow market demand to shape product availability. Institutional capital moves deliberately, but once allocated, it tends to remain invested, providing a stabilising influence on volatile markets. The applications represent diverse strategies and underlying assets, meaning approvals could broaden exposure beyond the largest cryptocurrencies and introduce investors to protocols with different risk and return profiles.

Tax-Advantaged Crypto ETNs (April 6, 2026)

The United Kingdom takes a different approach, allowing crypto exchange-traded notes to be held in tax-advantaged accounts starting April 6, 2026. This policy change qualifies these instruments for Individual Savings Accounts and self-invested personal pensions, granting millions of retail investors and pension funds a familiar wrapper for crypto exposure.

The significance lies in the stickiness of this capital. Retirement savings and tax-efficient accounts typically exhibit lower turnover than speculative trading capital, potentially reducing volatility over time. From my perspective, this move demonstrates how progressive regulation can expand access without compromising investor protections.

The UK framework may attract global crypto firms seeking a clear European base, especially as other jurisdictions grapple with more fragmented rules. Millions of UK residents now have a straightforward way to allocate a portion of their long-term savings to digital assets, and pension fund managers have a compliant vehicle to explore this emerging asset class within their fiduciary mandates.

Federal Reserve Leadership Transition (May 15, 2026)

Monetary policy leadership also shifts in May 2026 when Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s term ends on May 15. The nomination process that follows could usher in a more dovish approach to interest rates and balance sheet management.

History shows that easier monetary conditions boost liquidity for risk assets, and crypto has consistently correlated with periods of expanding money supply. A new chair selected by President Trump might prioritise growth-oriented policies, which would indirectly support digital asset valuations. I monitor these macro signals closely because crypto does not exist in a vacuum.

Global liquidity conditions often outweigh project-specific developments in driving price action, making the Fed chair transition a pivotal variable for the second half of 2026. A shift toward lower rates or faster balance sheet expansion would increase the pool of capital seeking yield, and digital assets often benefit when investors search for returns beyond traditional fixed income.

MiCA Implementation Deadline (July 1, 2026)

Finally, the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets regulation comes into full effect on July 1, 2026, requiring all crypto firms operating in the bloc to meet comprehensive compliance standards. MiCA creates a regulatory passport that allows approved entities to serve customers across all member states, but it also raises operational costs and may force smaller projects to exit the market. This consolidation could strengthen the remaining players while enhancing consumer trust through standardised disclosures and reserve requirements.

Having studied regulatory frameworks globally, I recognise that MiCA’s rigour may initially slow innovation but ultimately lend credibility to the sector. Firms that adapt early will gain competitive advantages in the world’s largest single market, while those that resist may find their access limited. The July 1 deadline creates a clear timeline for compliance investments, and companies that treat this as a strategic priority rather than a bureaucratic hurdle will position themselves for long-term growth.

Among these catalysts, the Federal Reserve leadership transition stands out as the most immediate market-moving factor, as it directly influences global liquidity that underpins all risk assets. The interplay between these events will define crypto’s trajectory through 2026 and beyond, rewarding those who understand both its technical and macroeconomic dimensions. Investors who track regulatory deadlines alongside central bank communications will gain an edge in anticipating capital flows and positioning portfolios for the next phase of digital asset adoption.

Source: https://e27.co/5-crypto-events-that-will-make-or-break-2026-what-investors-must-know-before-april-20260223/

Anndy Lian

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com

j j j

February 4th, 2026

Gold jumps 6.1 per cent to US$4,946 as geopolitical tensions override dollar weakness: What about Bitcoin?

Investors grew cautious about artificial intelligence potentially creating fiercer competition within the software sector, which kept sentiment fragile even as the partial United States government shutdown concluded late Tuesday after President Trump signed a funding agreement negotiated with Senate Democrats.

Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia made a decisive move by raising its key interest rate to 3.85 per cent from 3.60 per cent, marking the first major economy to tighten monetary policy this year after determining that inflation pressures remained stubborn enough to require renewed restraint. This divergence in global central bank approaches highlights an uneven economic landscape, with some regions facing persistent price pressures while others are preparing for easing cycles later this year.

United States equities retreated decisively, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling 0.34 per cent, the S&P 500 dropping 0.84 per cent, and the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite declining 1.43 per cent. The selloff centred on software stocks following Anthropic’s release of Claude Co-work plug-ins, which amplified fears about competitive disruption in an already crowded artificial intelligence ecosystem.

Investors rotated capital toward economically sensitive sectors seeking broader exposure beyond concentrated technology holdings. This shift pushed the VIX Index to 18.00, its highest level in two weeks, signalling rising anxiety about near-term market direction. The uneven nature of the United States’ recovery suggests merit in considering alternatives to the standard S&P 500, such as an equal-weighted index or low-volatility strategies that provide more balanced sector representation while maintaining exposure to select cyclicals, such as financials and industrials, alongside defensive healthcare segments.

Treasury yields moved lower as the equity selloff gathered momentum, with the two-year note falling 0.2 bps to 3.570 per cent and the 10-year yield declining 1.2 bps to 4.265 per cent. This inverse relationship between stocks and bonds reflected a classic risk-off rotation, with investors seeking safety in fixed-income assets amid turbulence in the technology sector.

The move supports a strategic approach of extending bond duration to the five to seven-year range while accumulating high-quality investment-grade debt, particularly from developed and emerging-market sovereign and corporate issuers. These instruments offer attractive real yields in an environment where central banks may begin to ease later this year, though timing remains uncertain given persistent inflation dynamics in some economies.

Currency markets reflected subtle shifts in global risk appetite, with the United States Dollar Index declining 0.20 per cent to 97.437 as the greenback weakened against nearly all G10 counterparts. The euro strengthened to 1.1819 against the dollar, gaining 0.2 per cent, while the Japanese yen continued its struggle with USD/JPY, rising 0.1 per cent to 155.75.

This yen weakness stemmed from expectations of a strong election victory for Prime Minister Takaichi, which raised concerns about Japan’s fiscal sustainability and long-term debt trajectory. The broader dollar downtrend appears intact, with further Federal Reserve easing expected to dominate currency movements through the remainder of the year, potentially supporting additional gains in EUR/USD while pressuring USD/JPY lower on a broad dollar basis.

Commodity markets displayed sharp reactions to geopolitical developments, with Brent crude oil rising 1.6 per cent to settle at US$67/bbl after reports emerged that the United States Navy shot down an Iranian drone approaching an American aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea.

This incident reignited tensions between Washington and Tehran, raising immediate fears of supply disruptions. Precious metals surged dramatically, with gold advancing 6.1 per cent to US$4,946/oz and silver climbing 7.4 per cent to US$85/oz. These gains reflected classic safe-haven demand as investors sought protection amid rising geopolitical risks and equity market volatility, though the underlying outlook for oil remains cautiously negative given structural supply dynamics.

Asian markets diverged positively from their Western counterparts, with regional indices gaining ground, lifted by the strength of precious metals and optimism surrounding a newly announced United States-India trade agreement. South Korea’s Kospi Index led regional advances with a remarkable 6.8 per cent jump, fuelled by a powerful rally in chipmaker semiconductor and memory chip-related stocks.

China’s Shanghai Composite added 1.3 per cent, while Taiwan’s TWSE closed 1.8 per cent higher, demonstrating resilience in technology manufacturing hubs despite weakness in United States tech shares. This divergence suggests regional markets may be pricing in different growth trajectories or benefiting from sector-specific catalysts that offset broader global risk aversion.

The cryptocurrency market declined 2.05 per cent to US$2.59T over 24 hours, primarily driven by a Bitcoin-led liquidation cascade that revealed the asset class’s tight correlation with traditional equities. Bitcoin’s drop below the psychologically critical US$74,000 level triggered a wave of forced closures on overleveraged long positions, with liquidations surging 149 per cent to US$263.49 million within a single day.

Ethereum dramatically underperformed, falling 24 per cent over seven days, which weighed heavily on the broader Layer 1 ecosystem, while the Fear and Greed Index plunged to 14, indicating extreme fear across digital asset markets. The 92 per cent correlation between Bitcoin and the S&P 500 underscores how macro liquidity conditions now dominate cryptocurrency price action more than idiosyncratic blockchain developments.

The near-term market trajectory hinges critically on whether Bitcoin can stabilise above US$74,000. A successful defence of this support level could catalyse a relief bounce toward US$77,200 to US$78,400, particularly if the United States spot Bitcoin ETF flow data shows renewed institutional accumulation.

Conversely, a decisive break below US$74,000 may accelerate selling pressure toward US$72,850, intensifying the current downtrend. The market exists in a fragile sentiment-driven state where technical factors like leveraged position unwinds interact with macro correlations, leaving little room for sector-specific catalysts to drive independent price action.

This confluence of factors paints a picture of markets navigating a delicate transition period. Technology volatility rooted in competition over artificial intelligence intersects with divergent global monetary policies and persistent geopolitical risks.

While US equities face headwinds from concentrated sector exposure, Asian markets show resilience, driven by semiconductor strength and optimism about trade deals. The cryptocurrency market’s sharp liquidation cascade ultimately reflects its current status as a risk asset tightly coupled to broader liquidity conditions rather than a diversifying alternative.

Investors would be wise to maintain balanced portfolios with quality fixed income allocations, defensive equity segments, and selective exposure to economically sensitive sectors, while carefully monitoring key technical levels in both traditional and digital asset markets. The path forward demands vigilance regarding central bank communications, earnings results, and geopolitical developments that could rapidly reshape risk sentiment across all asset classes.

Source: https://e27.co/gold-jumps-6-1-per-cent-to-us4946-as-geopolitical-tensions-override-dollar-weakness-what-about-bitcoin-20260204/

Anndy Lian

www.anndy.com

j j j

January 26th, 2026

Gold hits US$5K and crypto bleeds: What comes next?

As global markets opened for trading on Monday, January 26, investors found themselves navigating a landscape shaped by escalating geopolitical friction, shifting monetary expectations, and a historic surge in gold prices that eclipsed the psychological US$5,000 per ounce threshold. The confluence of these forces has created a volatile yet revealing moment in financial history. This moment reflects not only immediate market reactions but also deeper structural anxieties about the stability of traditional financial systems, the role of safe-haven assets, and the fragile confidence underpinning both equities and digital assets.

Gold’s ascent to over US$5,000 an ounce marks more than just a new record. It signals a profound loss of faith in fiat stability and institutional safeguards. This rally did not emerge in isolation. It unfolded against a backdrop of weakening US dollar sentiment, driven by fears of Japanese intervention in currency markets and renewed speculation about potential US tariffs targeting Greenland. A move that, while seemingly niche, underscores the broader trend of economic nationalism and strategic resource competition. In such an environment, capital naturally seeks refuge.

Gold, with its millennia-long reputation as a store of value, becomes the default destination when trust in policy predictability erodes. The strength of gold-related equities in Hong Kong, which helped propel the Hang Seng Index to its fourth consecutive gain, further illustrates how this flight to safety is translating into real portfolio allocations across Asia.

Meanwhile, US stock futures pointed lower at the open, reflecting investor caution ahead of a critical earnings week. The tech sector, long the engine of market returns, now stands at a crossroads. Microsoft, Meta, Tesla, and Apple are all scheduled to report results, and their performance will likely dictate whether the Nasdaq can sustain its narrow 0.28 per cent gain from Friday, January 23, when it closed at 23,501.24. That modest advance stood in stark contrast to the broader market malaise. The S&P 500 barely held onto a 0.03 per cent rise to finish at 6,915.61, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average tumbled 285.30 points, or 0.58 per cent, to 49,098.71, dragged down by a nearly 4 per cent drop in Goldman Sachs. These divergences suggest growing selectivity among investors, who are increasingly unwilling to reward broad market exposure without clear earnings justification, especially in a climate where macro risks loom large.

In Asia, policymakers are responding with strategic moves aimed at reinforcing regional financial autonomy. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s decision to double the size of its RMB Business Facility to RMB200 billion (US$28 billion) is a deliberate step toward deepening offshore renminbi liquidity and reducing reliance on the US dollar in trade and settlement. This aligns with China’s long-term goal of internationalising its currency, particularly as geopolitical tensions incentivise alternative financial architectures. Meanwhile, Singapore’s central bank is expected to hold its monetary policy steady, reflecting a more cautious stance in a region where inflation dynamics remain manageable but external shocks could quickly alter the calculus.

The cryptocurrency market, however, tells a different story, one of fragility and systemic vulnerability. Over the past 24 hours, the total crypto market cap fell by 1.9 per cent, extending a seven-day decline of 6.94 per cent. Despite retaining a modest 0.63 per cent gain for the month, the recent slide reveals how quickly sentiment can turn when trust is breached.

Two major security incidents acted as catalysts. In South Korea, prosecutors confirmed a phishing attack led to staggering losses of seized Bitcoin, while in the US, 40 million dollars worth of crypto was stolen from government-controlled addresses. These were not random hacks. They targeted institutions entrusted with custody of digital assets, raising urgent questions about the adequacy of current safeguards. When even state-held crypto proves vulnerable, retail and institutional participants alike reassess their exposure.

This erosion of confidence triggered a cascade of forced selling. In just 24 hours, 145 million dollars in Bitcoin long positions were liquidated, a staggering 4,829 per cent increase from baseline levels, with longs accounting for 98 per cent of all liquidations. Simultaneously, open interest in Bitcoin derivatives rose by 14 per cent, indicating that traders had piled into leveraged bets just before the downturn. The result was a classic deleveraging spiral.

As prices dipped below key technical supports, margin calls triggered automated sell-offs, which pushed prices lower, triggering more liquidations. Funding rates have turned slightly negative at minus 0.001 per cent, suggesting that short-term sentiment has shifted bearish, though not yet into panic territory. Still, the speed and scale of the unwind reveal how thin the line remains between orderly correction and disorderly collapse in highly leveraged crypto markets.

From my view, these developments underscore a pivotal tension in today’s financial ecosystem. There is a growing divergence between traditional safe-haven behaviour and the still-unproven resilience of digital alternatives. Gold’s record high reflects centuries of accumulated trust, while crypto’s sharp pullback exposes its continued dependence on speculative leverage and institutional credibility, both of which remain works in progress. The thefts from government-held wallets are particularly damning because they strike at the very premise that regulated custody can mitigate risk. If even federal agencies cannot secure digital assets, what hope do exchanges or self-custody solutions offer to the average investor?

Moreover, the timing could not be more consequential. With the US Senate set to discuss a new crypto bill this week, regulators now face immense pressure to respond, not just with rhetoric, but with concrete frameworks that address custody standards, transparency, and systemic risk. A reactive crackdown could deepen the selloff, while a measured, innovation-friendly approach might restore some confidence. But given the current mood, shaped by both geopolitical uncertainty and market fragility, any misstep could accelerate capital flight from digital assets toward time-tested stores of value.

Today may be remembered not just for gold’s historic milestone, but as a stress test for the entire architecture of modern finance. Traditional markets are grappling with slowing momentum and earnings uncertainty. Asian economies are quietly building parallel financial rails. The crypto sector is confronting its Achilles’ heel, the gap between technological promise and operational reality. For investors, the path forward demands discernment. Blind faith in either legacy systems or decentralised ideals is no longer tenable. Instead, survival and profit will belong to those who can navigate this hybrid landscape with eyes wide open, recognising that true resilience lies not in ideology, but in adaptability.

Source: https://e27.co/gold-hits-us5k-and-crypto-bleeds-what-comes-next-20260126/